Apparatus for making box blanks



B. E. HILL.

APPARATUS Foa MAKING 136x BLANKs Aug. l12

2 Sheets-Sha 1 Filed sept. 17; 1920 mg, 1.2 m4.

B. E. HILL APPARATUS FOR MAKING Box BLANKs Filed Se'nt. 1'? 1920 2 Sheotm-Sheet. 2

Patented Aug. 12, 1924.

UNITED STATES Pa'rlezNT-orrlclsz.v

BERT EUGENE HILL, OF NA'ICHEZ, AMISSISSIPPI, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONALV BO'X COM- PANY,. OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS.

Application filed September-17, 1920. Serial No. 411,010.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERT EUGENE HILL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Natchez, in the county of Adams and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Making BOX Blanks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to the manufacture of boX blanks of the type comprising thin boards or panels secured by staples to longitudinally-extending cleats, and has for its object to provide an improved machine which will operate automatically to assemble the cleats and panels in proper relationA to each other and deliver them to the stapling mechanism, so t-hat the machine may be successfully operated by unskilled labor without risk of personal injury, while at the same time a better and more uniformly-stapled blank will be produced, and there will be little or no waste of wire by reason of improperly-timed operations of the stapling mechanism. The preferred means by which I have accomplished my object are illustratedy in the drawings and are hereinafter specifically described. That. which I believe to be new and desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the claims.

In the drawings,-

Fig. 1 is a side view of a blank making machine, more or less diagrannnatic and partly in section;

Fig. 2 is a top viewA of one of the frames upon which the parts of the blank are positioned, and by which they are held for the stapling operation;

' Fig. 3 is a crosssection taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top view of a completed blank;

Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the rack by which the frame with the blank `parts thereon is fed to the stapling mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the frame illustrated in Fig. 2 but with the cleat engaging springs compressed inwardly to permit the ready insertion of the cleats thereinto; and

-Figz 7 is `a view of a complete box embodying two blanks of the type shown in Fig. 4 and two other blanks of more or less similar construction.

yReferring to the drawngs,15 indicates produce a blank like that shown in Fig.y 4.

two staple driving mechanisms of the type shown, arranged side by side at the proper intervals for driving two rows of staples,

will be provided. Shafts 18 and 19 are suitably mounted in the framework, support-ing drums 2O and 21 respectively upon which is mounted an endless belt 22 of leather or other suitable material. Suitable means may be provided if desired for supporting the upper course of the belt `22 between the drums 2O and 21. The belt 22 is driven sothat its upper course travels toward. the right as viewed in Fig. 1, by means of a sprocket wheel 23 mounted upon the shaft 19, and rotated intermittently in a clockwise direction by mechanism which will be hereinafter described. A hopper or magazine 24 adapted to contain a plurality of cleats 25 is mounted at each side of the machine above the belt 22 for feeding the cleats 25 to frames 26 (see Fig. 2) as such frames are vcarried underneath the hopper by the belt 22. A similar hopper 27 'disposed transversely of the belt, holding a plurality of panels 28, is adapted to feed the panels to said frames so that their end margins overlie the cleats in position to be stapled thereto, as hereinafter described.

With the belt 22 being driven and with the stapling mechanism 17 being actuated at intervals, a frame is placed in position upon the belt 22 at the left as illustrated in 1 so as to be carried forward by the belt under the hopper 24. As the frame passes underneath the hopper two of the cleats 25 are automatically fed into position as shown in Fig. 6. As the frame passes beneath the hopper 24, another frame 26 is placed upon the belt 22 with its forward edge in contact with the frame 26 immedif ately ahead of it. As the frame containing the cleats 25 passes next under the hopper 27,'pawls 28 are automatically deposited in position upon the cleats 25. Then the frame 26 reaches the right-hand end portion of the machine as shown in Fig. 1, a positively acting forwarding device feeds the frame forward intermittently under the stapling devices 17 which serve to connect the panels with the cleats by a plurality of staples 29 thereby forming the blank shown in Fig. 4.

Each of the frames 26 comprises longitudinally-extending bars between which the cleats 25 are placed, as is best shown in Fig. 6. Flat springs 31 are mounted upon the frames in position to engage the inner edges of the cleats 25 for pressing them against the innerl edges of the outer longitudinal bars of the frame. For displacing the springs 81 as the frame moves forward? with the belt 22, Ihave provided a pair of discs or wheels 32, (see Figs. 1 and 6) which are so positioned as to engage the springs at the time when theY cleats are to be placed in position. As is shown in Fig. 1, each of the discs 82 is revolubly mounted upon one arm of a lever 33,'the other arm of which is provided with a weight 34 adjustably mounted thereon. A'sfwill be readily `understood, ras the frame 26 moves toward the right as seen in Fig. 2, the springs 31 are moved temporarily out of their normal position into the position shown in Fig. 6, in which position they are held by therdiscs 82 until the frame has advanced sufficiently for clearing the springs from contact with the discs.

yThe hopper 24 is so arranged that, when the frame '26 passes thereunder, the rear cross-bar of the frame engages the rear end of the lowermost cleat in the hopper so as `to cause4 suc-h lowermost cleat to pass forward with the frame and to drop into position therein. As will be readily understood, the cross-bar at the forward end of the frame does not engage the rear end of the cleat for the reason that Asuch forward crossbar is'in close engagement upon the belt 22 withthe rear cross-bar of the next preceding l frame 26, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1. The

hopper 24 is provided at its forward end with a pivotally mounted arm 85 which is held yieldingly in normal position as shown in Fig. 1 bymeans of a spring 36 mounted upon a'rod 37 which is pivotally connected with' the arm, the spring 36 having a bearing at .its forward end againstv a lug 38 fixedly mountedl in position, the rod 37 being slidably mounted ina suitable opening in the As the lowermost cleat 25 is moved forward with the frame 26' as above described, the arm 85 is'dis'p'laced toward the right in said Fig. 1 against the action of the spring 36. `When, however, the forward end ofthe cleat is carried out of contact with the lower end of the arm 85 by the forward movement of the cleat, the arm 35 is caused to swingsmartly backward by the action of the spring 36, bringing the lower end of the arm 35 intor contact with the lowermost remaining cleat 25 in the hopper 24,

serving to push such cleat backward slightly into the position of the lowermost cleat 25 as shown in Fig. 1. In case the cleat does not readily fall into proper position within the frame 26, a spring pressed roller 39 at a short distance in advance of the hopper 24 serves to apply the necessary pressure to the cleat for forcing the cleat into normal position. As is best shown in Fig. 2 the frame 26 is provided with a plurality of short transverse strips 40` which serve as spacers for the panels of the blank. As the frame 26 is carried forward by the belt 22 under the hopper 27, each of the several cross strips 40 of the frame in rear of the foremost one of such strips engages the rear edge of a panel 28 so as to push such panel forward for causing it to drop into position bet-Ween the strips 40 as is shown at the right in Fig. 1, a spring pressed roller 41 being provided for applying the necessary pressure for forcing the panel 28 into place. The hopper 27 is also provided with an arm 42 pivotally mounted thereon pressed by a spring 48 into normal position as shown in Fig. 1, theA spring 48 being mounted upon a rod 44 similar to the rod 37 and having a bearing against a iixedly disposed lug 45. Inasmuch as the spring pressed arm 42 operates in the same manner as thatalready described in connection with the arm 35, it is believed to be unnecessary to describe the same further herein.

The means for giving the belt.- 22 the desired intermittent motion, comprises an eccentric 46 mounted upon the driving shaft 16 and connected by means of a rod 47 with an arm 48 carried by a rock-shaft 49. The connection between the rod and the arm 48 is adjustable by the provision of a slot 5() whereby the extent-to which the shaft 49 is rocked upon the rotation of the shaft 16 may be varied slightly. An arm 51 depending from the rock-shaft 49 is pivotally connected atits lower end portion to the forward end of a link 52, the connection of the link with the arm being effected by the use of any one of a plurality of holes 53 in the said arm. At its rear end the link 52 is pivotally connected to a block 54 which is swingingly mounted by means of arms 55 about a shaft 56. The block 54 carries a pawl 57 which is adapted to engage the teeth of a ratchet wheel 58 fixedly mounted upon the shaft 56. As will be readily understood, as the link 52 is reciprocated back and forth by the arm 51, the pawl 57 serves to give the ratchet wheel 58 an intermittent motion in clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 1. Through the medium of the shaft 56. a sprocket gear 59 mounted thereon, and a sprocket chain 60 connecting the sprocket gear 59 with the sprocket gear 23, the intermittent motion of the ratchet wheel 58 is transmitted to the sprocket gear 23, the

ed upon its upper end portion a bar 62 `the i forward end of which is connected by means of a spring 63 with a portion of the arm 61 at some little distance below the pivotal connection of the bar` therewith .wherebyl the spring 63 serves to hold the rear end of the bar 62 yieldingly upward. At the rear end portion the bar 62 is provided with a ratchet tooth 64 of any suitable type which is adapted to engage one of the teeth of a rack-bar 65 carried in central position by each of the frames 26 on the under face thereof. As is best shown in Fig. 5 the rack bar 62 is in the form of a strip of sheet metal having teeth stamped out of the body of the metal, and I prefer to use this form of rack bar. As one of the frames 26 is fed forward by the belt 22 by yielding frictional engagement therewith, and is brought into position to have the rack 65 carried thereby engaged by the reciprocatory bar 62, the frame 26 is drawn out of contact with the belt by an intermittent motion, the ratchet tooth 64 being adapted to advance the frame step by step as the tooth engages successively the teeth of the bar 65. As will be appreciated `by a comparison of Figs. 4 and 5, the teeth of the rack-bar 65 are spaced in position with respect to each other to correspond to the positions at which it is designed to have the staples 29 located in the completed blank. lBy the proper arrangement of the teeth along the bar 65, the spacing of the staples can be regulated as may be desired. It will be understood that if desired either a greater or smaller number of staples might be inserted in each of the panels 28 in lieu of the three staples in each end of each of such panels as is shown in Fig. 4, this result being attained by making a correspondingly different arrangement and spacing of the teethupon the rack-bar 65.

As will be readily understood, when a frame 26 being carried by the belt 22 comes in contact with another frame 26 being carried fo-rward by the positively-acting forwarding means comprising the toot-hed member 64, the frame in contact with the belt is adapted to slip with respect to the belt so as not to interfere with the regular spacing of the staples being driven in the blank passing under the stapling device.

Means is provided for automatically stopping the operation of the machine in case the operator fails to place one of the frames 26 in position on the belt 22 adjacent to the frame passing under the hopper 24.` This means comprises a roller 66 mounted :upon the upper end of a lever 67 the lowerend of which is connected by a spring 68 with a suitable portion of the framework 15, the spring being. adapted normally to swing the lever 67 in clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 1, for carying the roller 66 upward into the path of the frames 26. As will be ap.- preciated, so long as the frames26 are the belt carries the frames forward successively, the roller 66 will be held down' against the action of the spring 68. When, however, the frame 26 against which the roller 66 bears is moved forward out ofv contact with such roller, and the operator fails to place another frame in position so as to come promptly into contact with the roller 66, the spring V68 is free to move the lever 67 in clockwise direction in said Fig. 1. The lever 67 is connected at its lower end to a link 69 which is `pivot-ally con nected to the lower end of the lever 70, the upper end of which is pivotally connected to a link 71 which is pivotally connected at its forward end to an arm 72 swingingly mounted about the shaft 56. The arm 72 has mounted thereon another arm 73, the outer -end of which'is provided with a shield 74 curved about the ratchet wheel 58. Then the lever 67 is moved inv clockwise direction as above described, the link 71 is moved for- "ward carrying the arms 72 and 73 and the shield 74 in clockwise direct-ion in said figure, serving to place the shield 74 into position between the pawl 57 and the teeth of the ratchet wheel 58, and serving thus to stop the intermittent motion of the belt 22. A stop 7 5 is mounted in `suitable posi-` tion for limiting the movement of the lever 70.

lVhile I prefer to use bearing parts upon the levers 33 in the form of discs or wheels revolubly mounted thereon, such as the v75 placed in proper time uponithe belt 22. asV

bearing discs 32, it will be understood that' I do not wish to be limited to that precise form of structure except as hereinafter specifically claimed.

As will be readily understood, in the construction shown `for making the blank of Fig. 4, two of the hoppers 24 will be used arranged side by side for feeding a cleat to the frame 26 at each side thereof, but I do not wish tol be restricted to the use of any particular number of such hoppers and feedn ing mechanisms except as may be hereinafter specifically claimed.

That I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine for making box blanks, the combination of stapling mechanism., conveying mechanism vfor conducting frames containing blank parts assembled in position for stapling to Said, stapling mechanism, and Amechanism for advancing said frames 'past said stapling mechanism, the latter mechanism being adjustable independently of-the'said conveying mechanism to vary the position or number of the staples.

2. Ina machine for making box blanks, the combination of stapling mechanism, means `for frictionally engaging and conducting frames containing box blanks assembled in position for stapling to said stapling mechanism, and separate means for moving such frames past said stapling mechanism.y

3; In a. machine formaking box blanks, the f combination of Astapling mechanism, means for yfrictionally engaging and conducting frames containing box blanks assembledy in position for stapling to said stapling mechanism, and means for varying the progress of said frames past saidY stapling mechanism independently of said conducting means.

4. Ina boxblank making machine, the combination with stapling mechanism, of a horizontally disposed conveyor leading to such stapling mechanism, separate frames adapted to be supported and conducted by said. conveyor, said frames being arranged to receive cleats and panels assembled in position rfor stapling, and magazines for supplying cleats and panels to said frames as they are conducted past said magazines by said conveyor.

- 5; A machine for making box-blanks comprising a stapling device, a frame adapted tov hold in position the parts of a blank, a rack-bar centrally mounted on said frame, means engaging said rack bar from below for feeding said frame under said stapling devicefand conveyor mechanism for conducting said frame to said rack-bar engaging means.

6. A machine for making box blanks comprising a stapling device, a frame adapted to hold in position the parts of a blank, a rackbarf extending longitudinally of said frame in central yposition on the lower face thereof, reciprocatoryactuating means adapted to engage said rack-bar from beneath for feeding said frame under said stapling device, and conveyor mechanism for conducting said frameito said rack-bar engaging means.

7. A machine for making box blanks comprising a-stapling device, a frame adapted toholc in position the parts of a blank, means frictionally engaging said frame for moving it approximately to said stapling device, and positively-acting means for feeding said frame under said stapling device.

8. A machine for making box blanks comprising a stapling device, a frame adapted to hold 4in position the parts of a blank, means for delivering the blank parts to said frame, means frictonally engaging said frame for moving it until it reaches said stapling device and positively-acting means for feeding said frame under said stapling device.

9. A machine for making box blanks comprising a stapling device, a frame adapted to hold in position the parts of a blank, means frictionally engaging said frame for moving it toward said stapling device, means adapted automatically to deliver the blank parts to said frame as it is advanced by said means, and positively-acting means for feeding said frame under said stapling device.

10. A machine for making box blanks comprising a stapling device, a frame adapted to hold in position the parts of a blank, means frictionally engaging said frame for moving it toward said stapling device, means adapted automatically to deliver cleats to said frame as it is advanced by said means, other means adapted automatically to deliver panels to said frame over-lying said cleats, and positively-acting means for feeding said frame under said stapling device.

11. A machine for making box blanks comprising a stapling device, a frame adapted to hold in position the parts of a blank, an endless belt for moving said frame forward by friction toward said stapling device, means adapted automatically to deliver the blank parts to said frame as it moves forward, and positively-acting means for feeding said frame under said stapling device.

12. A machine for making box blanks coniprising a stapling device, a frame adapted to hold in position the parts of a blank, an endless belt upon which said frame rests and is carried forward by frictional engagement toward said stapling device, and positively-acting means for feeding said frame from said belt under said stapling device.

13. A machine for making box blanks com prising a stapling device, a frame adapted to hold in positionl the parts of a blank, means for moving said frame forward by friction toward said stapling device, means adapted automatically to deliver the blank parts to said frame in position to be stapled as the frame moves forward, and positivelyacting means for feeding said frame forward by a step by step movement under said stapling'device to correspond to the desired spacing of the sta )les in said blank.

14. A box blan making machine comprising a frame adapted to receive the blank parts, means for supporting said frame in a substantially horizontal position and moving it forward, means for supplying blank parts to said frame as it is advanced, yielding means mounted on said frame adapted normally to press said parts against said frame and mechanism for displacing said yielding' means'to permit the ready inserl tion of said blank parts in said frame.

15. A box blank making machine comprising a frame adapted to receive the blank parts, means for supporting said frame in a substantially horizontal position and moving it forward, means for supplying blank parts to said frame as it is advanced, yielding means mounted on said frame adapted normally to press said parts against said frame, automatically acting means for deliveringthe blank parts to said frame as it moves forward, and automatically acting mechanism for displacing said yielding means when saidframe is in position to receive said blank parts, to permit the inserA -tion of the blank parts.

16. A b'ox blank making machine comprising a frame adapted to receive the blank parts, means for supporting said frame in a substantially horizontal position i and moving it'forward, means for supplying blank parts to said frame as it is advanced, springs mounted on said frame and normally extending into the position to be occupied by certain of said blank parts, and mechanism acting automatically as the frame moves into `position to receive said blank parts for displacing said springs to permit the insertion in said frame of said blank parts.

17. A box `blank making machine comprising a frame adapted to receive the blank parts,r means' for moving said frame forward, flat springs mounted on said frame vand extending diagonally outwardly into the position to be occupied by certain of `said blank parts, and means engaging said vflat springs on the outer faces thereof adapted to press the springs inwardly so as to permitthe insertion of said blank parts as theframe moves forward. v

l18. A box blank making machine comprising a frame adapted to receive the blank parts, means for moving said frame forward, flat springs mounted on said frame and extending diagonally outwardly into the position to be occupiedv by certain of said blank parts, and means adapted to be displaced by the passage of the frame as the fifamemoves forward and adapted to return to operative position for pressing said springs inwardly for permitting the insertion of `said blank parts.

19. A box blank making machine comprising aframe adapted to receive the blank parts, vmeans for moving said frame forward, vflat springs mounted on said frame and extending diagonally outwardly into the position to be occupied by certain of position.

and extending diagonally outwardly into' the position to be occupied by certain of said blank parts, yieldingly-mounted arms adjacent to the path of said frame, and means mounted on said arms adapted to be displaced by t-he passage of the frame and adapted to return to operative position for pressing said springs inwardly for permitting the insertion of said blank parts.

21. A box blank making machine comprising a frame adapted to receive the blank parts, means for moving said frame forward, flat springs mounted on said frame and extending diagonally outwardlyv into the position to be occupied by certain of said blank parts, yieldingly mounted arms adjacent to the path of said frame, and discs revolubly mounted on said arms adapted to be displaced downwardly by the passage of the frame and adapted to return to operative position for compressing said springs for permitting the insertion of said blank parts.`

22. A boxblank making machine comprising a frame adapted to receive the blank parts, means for moving said frame for ward, flat springs mounted on said frame and extending `diagonally-outwardly into the position to be occupied by certain of said blank parts, counterbalanced arms pivotally mounted adjacent to the path of said frame, and means mounted on said arms adapted to engage said springs and to displace them for permitting the insertion of said blank parts as said frame moves forward.

23. A box blank making machine comprising a frame adapted to receive cleats and other blank` parts, means for moving said frameforward, flat springs mounted on said :frame and extending diagonally into the position to be occupied by said cleats, and means acting automatically as the frame moves forward for displacing said springs for permitting the insertion of said cleats.

24. A box blank making machine comprisiiig a magazine for blank parts, a conveyor for forwarding past said magazine a succession of frames adapted to receive such blank parts therefrom, and means arranged to operate to stop said conveyor in case the operator fails to place a frame on said conveyor in advance of said magazine, and to be rendered inoperative by a frame iii such 25. A box blank making machine comprising a magazine for blank parts, a conveyor for forwarding past said magazine a succession of frames adapted to receive such blank parts therefrom, means for intermittently driving said conveyor, and means arranged to operate to throw said ydriving means out of operation in case the operator fails 'to' place a frame on said conveyor in advance of said magazine, and to be ren- Y 26!v A box making machine comprising a lconveyor for forwarding a succession of between said ratchet and said pawl in case` frames-each adapted to receive the blank parts' in lposition for stapling, pawl and ratchet` `mechanism for driving said conveyor, ashield movably mounted adjacent tov said ratchet, and automatically acting means for moving said shield into position the operator fails to place said frames in normal position on said conveyor.

27. A box blank making machine comprising a conveyor for forwarding a succession of frames each adopted to receive the blank parts in position'for stapling, a roller yieldingly mounted below the ath of said frame on said conveyor and a opted to be heldin lowered position by said frame, and means actuated by the upward movement of said roller permitted by the absence of a frame thereover for throwingr said conveyor out of operation. Y

' y28. A machine for making box blanks comprising a stapling device, a frame adapted, to hold the parts of a blank in position for stapling, means for moving said frame by friction toward said stapling device,`means adapted. to take said frame 'from said fractional-feeding meansr and to forward it positively step bystep under said stapling device, and means for varying jthespeed of one of said forwarding means with respect to theother.

29. A machine for making box vblanks comprising a stapling device, a frame adapt- 'ed'to hold the parts of a blank in osition for. stapling, means for vmoving sai frame byI 1- friction toward` said stapling device, means adapted to take said frame' from said 'frictional-feeding means and'to forward it .positively step by step under said stapling device, and means for varying the speed of said frictional feeding means with respect to saidvpositively acting' forwarding means.

30. A machine for making box blanks comprising a stapling device, a frame adapted to hold the parts of'a blank inposition for stapling, an endless belt adapted to carry said `frame by frictional engagement therevwith-toward said stapling device, positively v.acting means for carrying said frame from said belt to and past said stapling device, and -means for varying the speedof said endless belt with respect to that of thepositively acting forwarding means.

' 3l. A machine for making box blanks comprising a stapling device, a magazine for blank arts a frame ada ted to receive v y 3 partsof la blank from said magazine and ahold them in position for stapling, a convice, and means for feeding blank parts to said frame as it moves forward, said feeding means comprising a hopper adapted to support a pile of parts above said conveyor vand spring actua-ted means carried by the hopper at its forward portion adapted to engage the lowermost one of the piley of parts in the hopper and to move such part slightly backward with respect to the pile.

33. A machine for making box blanks comprising a stapling device, a frame adapted to receive the parts of a blank in position for stapling, a conveyor adapted to carry said frame toward said stapling device, and means for feeding blank parts to said frame as it moves forward, said feed-` `ing means comprising a hopper adapted to prising a frame arranged to receive and hold the parts of the blank in the proper relative position to each other, a conveyor for conducting the frame to said stapling mechanism, intermittently acting' mecha- I nism adapted to engage said frame centrally and advance the same from said conveyor past the stapling mechanism, and means for driving said conveyor and said advancing mechanism.

35. In a machine for making box blanks,

'the combination with stapling mechanism` of means for feeding the assembled parts of ka blank to suoli stapling mechanism com-v prising a frame arranged to receive and hold the parts of the blank in the proper relative position to each other, a conveyor for conducting the frame to said stapling mechanism, intermittently acting mechaapblank, to such stapling mechanism comnism adapted to engage said frame centrally from beloW and advance the same from said conveyor under the stapling mechanism, and means for driving said conveyor and said advancing mechanism.

36. In a machine for making box blanks, the combination with stapling mechanism, of means for 'feeding the assembled parts of a blank to such stapling mechanism coinprising a frame arranged to receive and ho-ld the parts of the blank in the proper relative position to each other, said frame having a longitudinally extending rack disposed centrally at the under side thereof, a conveyor for conducting the frame fto said stapling mechanism, intermittently acting mechanism adapted to engage said rack for advancing the frame from said conveyor under the stapling mechanism, and means for driving said conveyor and said advancing mechanism.

37. In a machine for making box blanks, the combination with stapling mechanism, of means for feeding the assembled parts of a blank to such stapling mechanism comprising a Jiframe having a longitudinally extending rack the teeth whereof are spaced mechanism, and means for driving said con 35 veyor and said advancing mechanism.

BERT EUGENE HILL. 

